During visits to Antietam, I always stop at Burnside Bridge early in the morning, perhaps the best time and place to contemplate the slaughter that took place in western Maryland long ago. I’ll touch the witness tree feet from the bridge, stare at the long-ago site of Yankee graves along the stone wall and marvel at mist hovering over Antietam Creek. Occasionally, I’ll walk about 150 yards or so, usually through tall grass, to visit the out-of-the-way 11th Connecticut monument.

No one’s ever around, so I’ll linger and read the names on the gray-granite monument, often running my fingers over the inscriptions of those who sacrificed their lives for the Union. Their stories I know so well.

Captain John Griswold, from Old Lyme and the grandson of a Connecticut governor, was mortally wounded as he splashed across the creek in a hail of gunfire on the morning of Sept. 17, 1862. "I die as I have ever wished to die, for my country," he told IX Corps commander Ambrose Burnside shortly before his death.

Private Daniel Tarbox, an 18-year-old private from Brooklyn, Conn., was shot through the bowels during the attack on the bridge. He died the next day in nearby Middletown, Md. In anticipation of fighting, he had written his father two weeks earlier, "If we go in, we can’t think of coming out."

Private Fennimore Weeks, from Norwalk, lived a few moments after he was shot through the head. "His effects I will send to you as soon as I have an opportunity and will write you more of the particulars," his captain wrote the soldier's mother.

And Private William Hall, from Mansfield, also killed in fighting at the bridge. More than 150 years later, the 17-year-old soldier's descendant cleaned his begrimed marker in a rural cemetery in Connecticut.

And now a poignant letter -- auctioned on eBay -- has surfaced revealing how another soldier in the regiment died at what the 11th Connecticut hospital steward called "the creek of death." In the three-page letter to his brother Charles, written four days after the battle, a shaken George L. Dayton, an 11th Connecticut private, quickly got to the point.

"He is dead," he wrote about their brother Lewis, who was shot through the heart in the charge on the stone-arch bridge. The next day, George wrapped Lewis' body in "4 or 5 blankets" and buried the 11th Connecticut private where he fell.

Uninjured physically, George Dayton certainly suffered mental scars from the battle, perhaps lasting a lifetime. "I am unwell and about crazy," he concluded his letter, "so I will not write any more now."

Lewis, from Winchester, Conn., is buried in an unknown grave, but some believe his spirit may linger near the 11th Connecticut monument.

(Letter posted with permission of eBay seller.)

Sept. 21, 1862Sharpsburg, Md.Dear Brother Charles

I received your letter directed to Lewis whitch came to late for him ever to read, he is dead.

It is terrible news, but it is true. He was shot while we were making a charge on the rebels at Sharpsburg in the northwestern part of Maryland on the 17th of Sept. He was shot though the heart and fell saying I am killed ,,,

(Letter posted with permission of eBay seller)

We were obliged to leave the ground where he fell and when we found him the next day the rebels had taken everything from his pockets.

I dug his grave and buried him with my own hands in the field where he fell after wrapping him in 4 or 5 blankets.

We have been in 4 of 5 skirmishes and battles lately and our regt. is terribly cut to pieces. Also the 8th Conn. and 16th [Conn.]. Our regt. lost about 50 killed and 200 wounded on the 17th of Sept. I escaped without a wound. We have driven Stonewall Jackson across the ...

(Letter posted with permission of eBay seller.)

... Potomac and I suppose we are to follow him. Their is no telling when or how this war will end.

You neglected to mention that the 11th Conn lost is commander Colonel Henry W. Kingsbury during the charge at Antietam, a rising star in the army. Kingsbury graduated from the West Point Class of 1861, served on Irwin McDowell's staff, commanded Battery D, 5th US Artillery during the Seven Days, and was shot "four times" while rallying his regiment at Antietam. He is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, DC.

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ABOUT THE BLOGGER

John Banks is author of Connecticut Yankees at Antietam and Hidden History of Connecticut Union Soldiers, which feature profiles of soldiers and others. His work has been featured in such notable publications as The New York Times, Civil War Times, Civil War Monitor, Civil War News, America's Civil War and Military Images. Banks, who attended Mount Lebanon (Pa.) High School, graduated from West Virginia University (B.A. in journalism). A longtime journalist (The Dallas Morning News and ESPN), he is secretary-treasurer of The Center for Civil War Photography and a board member of the Save Historic Antietam Foundation and Battle of Nashville Trust.

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"Connecticut Yankees at Antietam": Stories of soldiers from Connecticut who served in the four regiments from the state who fought during the bloodiest day in American history. Click on image for ordering details. If you want to purchase a signed copy, email me at jbankstx@comcast.net.

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16TH CONNECTICUT

The 16th Connecticut was routed at Antietam and many soldiers in the regiment were later imprisoned at Andersonville and elsewhere. Click on the image of Company K captain Newton Manross, killed at Antietam, for more on the hard-luck regiment.

ANTIETAM POSTS

Posts on the Battle of Antietam, my favorite Civil War topic, may be found by clicking on the image of "The 40-Acre Cornfield."

ANTIETAM PANOS

From Burnside Bridge to Bloody Lane to the 40-acre Cornfield, view an extensive collection of interactive battlefield panoramas.

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From Little Round Top to Benner's Hill, view a collection of interactive panoramas of the battlefield.

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ANTIETAM DEATHS

Download my Excel spreadsheet of Connecticut Antietam deaths. It includes soldier's name, rank, regiment, company, place of death, family information, links and more. It's the most comprehensive list of its kind. Click on image. (Having trouble downloading it? E-mail me at jbankstx@comcast.net and I will send it to you.)

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MORE ANTIETAM

The faces, graves and memorials of soldiers from Connecticut who were killed or mortally wounded on Sept, 17, 1862 -- the bloodiest day in American history. Click on image.

ANTIETAM UP CLOSE

Enlargements of Alexander Gardner images allow you to see Antietam like you've never seen it before. Click on image above.

GETTYSBURG DEATHS

Download my Excel spreadsheet of Connecticut Gettysburg deaths. It includes soldier's name, rank, regiment, company, place of death, family information, links and more. It's the most comprehensive list of its kind. Click on image. (Having trouble downloading it? E-mail me at jbankstx@comcast.net and I will send it to you.)

NEW BERN DEATHS

On March 14, 1862, three regiments of Connecticut soldiers fought at the Battle of New Bern (N.C.). Skip Riddle, an expert on the battle, researched the circumstances of the deaths of soldiers in the 8th, 10th and 11th Connecticut regiments at New Bern. Download the Excel spreadsheet by clicking on the image. (Additional research by John Banks)